Hip Replacement (Revision)

What is a Revision Hip Replacement procedure?

A Revision Hip Replacement procedure is performed when all or parts of an original Hip Replacement prosthesis start to fail or wear out.  A hip prosthesis is typically made of metal, plastic or ceramic, or a combination of all three materials and although these materials are usually hard wearing and long lasting, they do occasionally need replacing for various reasons.

Why is a Revision Hip Replacement procedure performed?

A Revision Hip Replacement Procedure becomes necessary when a primary hip prosthesis starts to show signs of 'wear and tear', begins to loosen, fractures, dislocates or becomes infected.  

How is a Revision Hip Replacement procedure performed?

A Revision Hip Replacement procedure can be performed under General Anaesthetic (you will be asleep) or Spinal/Epidural Anaesthetic (you will be awake, but sedated). The length of time to perform a revision procedure will depend on the complexity of the problem, but typically revision surgery is more complex and lengthy to perform than a primary hip replacement.

Throughout the revision procedure the patient will be positioned on their unaffected side on the operating table and an incision is made along the original hip replacement scar. In complex cases this scar may also need to be lengthened. The hip muscles are then re-divided to fully expose the hip joint and old prosthesis. The components of the worn out or damaged prosthesis are then carefully removed with all effort made to avoid damage to any original thighbone or pelvic bone surfaces. All bony surfaces are cleared of old cement and debris and re-prepared for a new prosthesis.

Because of the reduced or limited healthy bone available after an original hip replacement it is often necessary to insert and fix additional bone grafting materials to improve the stability of the replacement hip prosthesis.

Following the insertion of the new components and bone grafts the wound is usually closed with absorbable stitches and a surgical drain inserted to minimise the risk of any developing blood clots.

What is the recovery like?

Once a patient is fully recovered from the effects of anaesthetic they are normally encouraged to be as active and mobile as possible to avoid serious complications such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) from developing. It is therefore normal for patients to be encouraged to take a few steps with the support of a walking frame and guidance from a physiotherapist the day after surgery.

Following a progressive improvement of mobility and pain control, patients are normally discharged home 5-7 days following their surgery. By the time the required level of recovery is achieved for discharge, patients are normally free of drains, wearing a simple wound dressing, eating and drinking normally, walking with just the aid of a stick and taking only mild analgesia (pain killers).

Over the next 6 weeks patients will be expected to work on improving their own mobility and range of joint movement through dedicated and progressive physiotherapy and by increasing their daily activity and walking distances. Your Consultant Surgeon will then assess your joints range of movement after 6 weeks and then again after three months to evaluate how successful your Revised Hip Replacement surgery as been.

Patients who are in employment should not resume work until after their first consultation and dependant on the physical nature of their job may be advised to take longer off work. Patients should expect a continuous and full physical recovery to take up to one year to achieve.

Are there any risks associated with Hip Revision surgery?

Although Hip Revision surgery is regularly performed without any complications, it is very important that all candidates are fully aware of both the benefits and risks of undertaking this type of specialist and complex surgery.

All surgery, no mater how expertly or carefully it is performed, carries risks and the importance of a full evaluation and consultation with an expert in Revision Hip surgery to discuss your condition in relation to these risks cannot be over emphasised.

How do I find out if I am a suitable candidate for Hip Revision surgery?

Surgical Advisor will be delighted to help you find a leading expert in Revision Hip surgery to consult with. Your surgeon will carry out a thorough evaluation of your condition and provide you with a comprehensive explanation of the most appropriate surgical solution.
 
Our Expert Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons are most carefully selected and recommended because they understand the importance of the decision you are making when contemplating Revision Hip surgery and because of their specialist lower limb surgery expertise. Throughout your consultation you will therefore be encouraged to ask as many questions as you wish and to take your time in making a decision to proceed with any recommended treatment.

To ensure that patients are comfortable with any recommendations or advice given in their consultation, all patients are asked to go away after a consultation and think through all the information they have received. If for whatever reason you are still not sure about the best course of action and wish to have further dialogue with your surgeon, you will not be expected to pay for a second consultation appointment.

How do I make a consultation appointment?

For further advice on how to make an appointment to consult with an expert Revision Hip surgeon: 

Please call Surgical Advisor on: 0870 41 41 41 2
Or email us by clicking on: advice@surgicaladvisor.com